The Everything Victoria & Albert's Thread

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DH and I dined at V&A a few years ago and I did not receive a rose -so maybe there are off nights?
 
Jan 19-27th disney will be doing a renovation of victoria and alberts. I was unable to get a reservation their on my honeymoon because of it.
 
Jan 19-27th disney will be doing a renovation of victoria and alberts. I was unable to get a reservation their on my honeymoon because of it.
That's unfortunate. I'm sorry you won't get to go. Nevertheless, congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
 


at only 74 days out I scored a ressie on our anniversary for the Queen Victoria room!!So excited!!!
 
Well, I have some very unfortunate feedback. After dining last summer at Victoria and Albert's and finding it to be one of the best dining experiences of my life, I happily booked my 40th birthday celebration at Disney so I could dine here on my birthday (which was last week). While the evening started off fine, it was one incident after another and then it melted down to a bad ending :(

First off, I know there was a food & wine festival dinner there the same night because I contemplated booking it but decided I wanted the evening alone with my husband since we got the few hours away from the kids. I do believe this event overshadowed their normal dining service and I truly felt they were paying more attention to that event and other diners than us lowly nobodies.

We were sat in between two other tables and we were all sat about 5 or 10 minutes apart. Last time, our table was more isolated so I am sure that made the dinner better. So we certainly expected to hear the same spiel about the food but it was extremely annoying after awhile to hear the spiel, get it ourselves, then hear it at the next table. So what you might say when they have to memorize the menu? Well, even their friendly 'banter' was EXACTLY the same. It felt very rehearsed and not personable at all.

Well, the two tables next to us must have been 'somebodies' because they were treated extra special. The one table knew the sous chef and he came out to talk to them and the table next to us greeted some of the staff with hugs so they were being paid attention to very well. ALL the mistakes - and there were PLENTY - were made at our table (incorrect explanation of the food, over filling my water glass, misprouncing my name after I told them then corrected them, lack of service when we needed it, not listening to what food I wanted, and bumping into me as I walked to the bathroom). The worst is that as we are asking questions or talking to our servers, they would be looking at the other tables. It was like we were pests.

So do we pay for the service? UM YES. But let's get to the food...:crazy2: My husband has a degree in culinary arts and has been a cook and a chef at many restaurants and while I do not hold a degree like that, I am familiar with fine dining an enjoy a variety of unique foods. We also have dined here before and knew how fabulous the food could be. It was NOT. I literally was getting sick from the food - it did not taste good and drank 6 full glasses of water to wash the taste out. I did not want to tell my husband because he was trying to make my birthday fabulous so when he went to the restroom and our lady server came over, I told her that something was wrong with the meat and could I please change my entree to something vegetarian. Her eyes got really big and she asked me if this was something new WITH ME!!! Like the food was fabulous and I must be vegetarian (after 40 years and a family ranch - um NO). I was made to feel like the chef was some artist that could do no wrong and I couldn't change my entree. I told her I would eat the veggies off the plate. I also asked for another piece of bread. Yes, I asked for something else because I didn't like the food and was denied. And those veggies, soaked in a bad meat sauce and they were crunchy and not cooked correctly :furious:

My husband did realize that I was not eating the food and finally he said that the food didn't taste good to him either. My husband who eats huge amounts of food plus mine couldn't eat those tiny bites either. We thought we would just enjoy our dessert and coffee and get some Bailey's on the rocks. Well, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Last time, they didn't charge us for the Bailey's and we overheard the server tell the table next to us that it was included with the wine pairing but then they charged us for it. Again, we were the nobodies.

My husband did ask and they didn't do a thing - didn't explain why the table next to us was treated differently nor did they take it off the bill. So $525 later, we left. My husband did talk to the manager and relayed our experience and frankly, I walked out I was so annoyed but she didn't do anything, well yet...We went to Mizner's to listen to the band and get a couple to go drinks for our walk back to the Polynesian. DH told the server he was really disappointed in V&A. As we were leaving the Grand Floridian, the V&A manager ran after us and gave us back the cash we paid for the drinks in Mizner's. I told her the drinks at Mizner's were fine, it was the dinner that wasn't good. She apologized and finally I told her that I just wanted to enjoy my birthday and not stand there and talk about my bad experience as everyone is staring at us.

Well, they had no issue charging us our $525 even though we headed back to the Polynesian to eat at Captain Cooks - seriously! And I'm a pretty tiny person so for me to be hungry after a fancy meal is ridiculous.

Oh, they did send me a basket in the room to say happy birthday - filled with autumn florals ???? Thanks for reminding me I'm getting old with autum florals and thanks for giving me nasty flowers and twigs that attract bugs and that I can't take home (nor would I want to - I HATE cut flowers - they are a waste of money, a pain to take care of and a waste of money). I would have preferred they took the $ off the bill and they SHOULD have.

I was not going to post this because I truly hoped V&A would contact us and talk to us but they have not. After receiving the full charge, DH was livid - he really thought they would at least take off the extra amount they charged us and that they should have not charged for all that bad food - food we complained about and even asked for other dishes and were denied. We did tip 20% because we have both been in the restaurant business and we know that the mistakes made were not horrible on their own and that everyone (even two people) can have a bad night. So it isn't like we stiffed anyone because maybe I could understand them not wanting to talk to us if we did. Well, so much for V&A. I really am sad about the whole thing. My birthday wasn't ruined but it is really disgusting that I planned my entire birthday TRIP around that restaurant. We were supposed to go to Hawaii but NO, I had to eat at V&A. :(
 


So do we pay for the service? UM YES. But let's get to the food...:crazy2: My husband has a degree in culinary arts and has been a cook and a chef at many restaurants and while I do not hold a degree like that, I am familiar with fine dining an enjoy a variety of unique foods. We also have dined here before and knew how fabulous the food could be. It was NOT. I literally was getting sick from the food - it did not taste good and drank 6 full glasses of water to wash the taste out. I did not want to tell my husband because he was trying to make my birthday fabulous so when he went to the restroom and our lady server came over, I told her that something was wrong with the meat and could I please change my entree to something vegetarian. Her eyes got really big and she asked me if this was something new WITH ME!!! Like the food was fabulous and I must be vegetarian (after 40 years and a family ranch - um NO). I was made to feel like the chef was some artist that could do no wrong and I couldn't change my entree. I told her I would eat the veggies off the plate. I also asked for another piece of bread. Yes, I asked for something else because I didn't like the food and was denied. And those veggies, soaked in a bad meat sauce and they were crunchy and not cooked correctly :furious:
(
I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I know it is easy for me to say but at the point they denied you food, i would have asked to speak the the manager. I would not have paid the bill at V and A without speaking to a manager if my experience was like yours.

We went last year for our 14th wedding anniversary dinner. Sunday my BIL and SIL said they want to go to WDW with us and FIL around that time. FIL said that DH and I should go back for our anniversary. We had no problem booking it ( christmas week so was a little worried) and can't wait to go back.
 
My husband and I just dined in the QVR on last week and had an absolutely wonderful experience. I'm glad we didn't do it the night they were having the Food & Wine Festival dinner. These events take a lot manpower and resources to put together, and I'm guessing the kitchen was probably over-stressed. The price for the Festival dinner was over $500 per person, so I'm guessing they had their best team working on that. I'm actually surprised they opened the restaurant that night for regular reservations.
 
My husband and I just dined in the QVR on last week and had an absolutely wonderful experience. I'm glad we didn't do it the night they were having the Food & Wine Festival dinner. These events take a lot manpower and resources to put together, and I'm guessing the kitchen was probably over-stressed. The price for the Festival dinner was over $500 per person, so I'm guessing they had their best team working on that. I'm actually surprised they opened the restaurant that night for regular reservations.

I booked it before they announced the food and wine dinner but when I noticed it, I wondered if it would affect my reservation. I figured they had the staff to handle both if they were going to take that on but their service and food was definitely affected by it. They should have made the decision to not accept (or to limit) regular reservations if they couldn't handle it. And unfortunately, they made a terrible impression on us especially since we knew what a fabulous experience they can make it. My laid back, happy-with-anything-husband is pretty furious as it was my birthday present. I'm more upset with his disappointment than my own although the entire evening left a bad taste in my mouth (literally and figuratively). If the food was fabulous, we would have laughed off the rest. But hey, the band at Mizner's was amazing - as usual!! And we had a lovely walk back to the Poly and saw the villas - all of them - lit up as they were doing their last check before they opened the next day.
 
After many years of fantastic dinners at V&A, we too had a not-so-great experience last week (Thurs). I felt the food was far "off" from what it had been. The amuse buche was terrible- all tuna and very Asian inspired. My gnocchi with mushrooms and truffles was really terrible. Could barely taste the truffle and the mushrooms were overlooked and just terrible tasting. Another dish ( quail) had a thick, heavy BBQ-type sauce that overpowered it and also tasted bad. I ordered the lamb that I always get and the portion was much smaller. It was also covered with a similar thick heavy BBQ type sauce which ruined it. Service from main course on was absolutely terrible. It was as if we were forgotten about.my husband is very easy- going and he agreed it was not up to par but he hates to make a scene so I did not complain. But boy was a disappointed and horrified at a$400 price tag for such a bad meal and so-so service,. We probably won't be back.
 
The recent negative reviews are interesting. I can certainly understand being disappointed by a less-than-stellar experience. Expectations are justifiably high when you pay $200 per head. They should be able to impress almost anyone.

For those reporting "bad" food, can you be more specific? Was it not to your taste, was it not prepared to generally-accepted standards, etc.? For example, at first glance, an Asian-inspired amuse bouche sounds wonderful to me. What made it terrible?

I would also be offended if nearby tables clearly received superior service because they were better connected or appeared wealthier. I don't understood snobby/aloof servers at places like this. Waiting tables can make a good living, but it won't make you an oil tycoon. I suppose it's a bit of a sore spot for me. My husband and I are relatively young and admittedly a little nerdy, but we're polite, love good food & wine, and tip 20-25%. We ran into snobby service at Citrico's earlier this year, and we were really taken aback. (They sat us at someone else's table and then unapologetically asked us to move, served us oxidized wine, never re-filled our drinks, and apparently forgot to offer dessert, all while we tried to gracefully roll with the punches. No fun.) I don't know... do the super-wealthy really tip that much better?

I'm headed to V&A's in early December and will keep my expectations in check. Thanks for the reviews.
 
In my case, I think I gave pretty detailed descriptions of what wasn't good about the food and service. The Asian inspired amuse bouche had three items and they all tasted the same- very vinegary and personally I don't go to a French inspired restaurant for Asian inspired food. The rest of my courses ( and dislikes) are described above.
 
In my case, I think I gave pretty detailed descriptions of what wasn't good about the food and service. The Asian inspired amuse bouche had three items and they all tasted the same- very vinegary and personally I don't go to a French inspired restaurant for Asian inspired food. The rest of my courses ( and dislikes) are described above.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone call Victoria and Albert's a French-inspired restaurant before. Both Zagat and V&A's own website say the cuisine is modern American. For the thread at large, is French cuisine a common expectation for this restaurant?
 
I don't think I've ever heard anyone call Victoria and Albert's a French-inspired restaurant before. Both Zagat and V&A's own website say the cuisine is modern American. For the thread at large, is French cuisine a common expectation for this restaurant?

I expect classical technique, but a variety of tastes and styles. Asian does not surprise me; neither would Italian, Spanish, French or regional American. (Somehow, I think a dish with a Mexican flavor profile WOULD surprise me, though I'm not sure why.)
 
In my case, I think I gave pretty detailed descriptions of what wasn't good about the food and service. The Asian inspired amuse bouche had three items and they all tasted the same- very vinegary and personally I don't go to a French inspired restaurant for Asian inspired food. The rest of my courses ( and dislikes) are described above.

It sounds like the food just wasn't to your taste, then. That's fine. I'll probably still enjoy it. ;)
 
Did you read the rest of my post?!?! Yes, some wasn't to my taste. Other food was just bad. Gnocchi and mushrooms with black truffle sauce. Hardly taste the black truffle, mushrooms over cooked, odd taste, actually bad to the point where I had to rinse out my mouth and stop eating it. Quail, which I don't eat often, but is a delicate light meat, smothered in a thick BBQ type sauce. Sauce was terrible and all wrong for the quail. Lamb dish was much smaller than in years past (2-3 small pieces instead of the usually 5-6 or 7). Again smothered in a thick similar sauce. The sauce tasted terrible and the vegetables were overlooked and bitter. They didn't go with the taste of the sauce at all. Service was so- so ( one good server, one very odd, very aloof guy) until main course then it went dramatically downhill. The cheese and dessert portion of our meal took over an hour simply because they got busy and truly just kept ignoring us. Dessert was good but not as food as it had been. I have eaten at V&A about 8 times. Never have I been there when I didn't enjoy even one of the courses. This time, there was nothing that wowed me and a few courses actually were terrible. Service was pretty poor.

I even ate a few of the dishes as in years past and they were "off" this year or newly invented with sauces and veggies that just didn't make sense. I have never experienced less than good service there either so that was also quite a shock.
 
Can anyone please post a recent photo of the menu or any food shots? I'm surprising my family with the QVR on 11/5 and am curious what we might be getting
 
Did you read the rest of my post?!?! Yes, some wasn't to my taste. Other food was just bad. Gnocchi and mushrooms with black truffle sauce. Hardly taste the black truffle, mushrooms over cooked, odd taste, actually bad to the point where I had to rinse out my mouth and stop eating it. Quail, which I don't eat often, but is a delicate light meat, smothered in a thick BBQ type sauce. Sauce was terrible and all wrong for the quail. Lamb dish was much smaller than in years past (2-3 small pieces instead of the usually 5-6 or 7). Again smothered in a thick similar sauce. The sauce tasted terrible and the vegetables were overlooked and bitter. They didn't go with the taste of the sauce at all. Service was so- so ( one good server, one very odd, very aloof guy) until main course then it went dramatically downhill. The cheese and dessert portion of our meal took over an hour simply because they got busy and truly just kept ignoring us. Dessert was good but not as food as it had been. I have eaten at V&A about 8 times. Never have I been there when I didn't enjoy even one of the courses. This time, there was nothing that wowed me and a few courses actually were terrible. Service was pretty poor.

I even ate a few of the dishes as in years past and they were "off" this year or newly invented with sauces and veggies that just didn't make sense. I have never experienced less than good service there either so that was also quite a shock.

Hey, food is somewhat subjective and I was just interested in hearing more detailed opinions. (Thanks for those, btw.) I'm kind of sorry that I asked. :lmao:
 
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